Repacking drive shaft stuffing box

[KeyserSoze]

I took the boat out for its maiden voyage and ended up with quite a bit of water in the bilge.  I'm thinking I need to repack the stuffing box.   It looks like skiboatpartsonline sells it by the foot.  How many pieces need to be cut to fit into the packing gland nut?  Looks like maybe two, but videos of people doing this job on other boats show 3 or more.  I guess I need to take it apart and look.  Assuming this is the original packing material in the boat.  How long does this stuff usually last?

The boat ran great though.  I was a little worried since I bought it without taking it on the water, just hearing it run on a garden hose.  My daughter LOVED it!  She popped right up on the wakeboard and is looking forward to going out again.  Thinking of adding a pylon extension.  Really don't want to drill into it for a wakeboard tower.

[RonT]

12" is more than enough to do one stuffing box. If you have the white plastic box there will be 2 rings needed, cut from the 12". If you have a brass box you will wrap the packing around until you have 1 thread showing to start the compression nut onto the threaded port.

[RonT]

Here is a more detailed set of instructions on my other site:   http://rontanis.com/how-to-replace-packings-shaft-rudder/

[KeyserSoze]

Has anyone used GFO or GTU packing?  Those seem to be the two brands I've found that are the Gore-Tex fibers/Graphite/PTFE - supposed to be superior to the white Teflon stuff, but you can't always believe what you read on the Internet...

[backfoot100]

Either one is much better than the old wax impregnated stuff. They last much longer and I feel are much easier to work with.

[Midskier]

I'll only use the Teflon packing rope the FLAX (wax) is gross - pig fat and wax 

[RonT]

Packing Info pertaining to our ski boat applications:
FLAX - old school wax and "other stuff" common through early 80's, 1-3 seasons at best (made for industrial valves)
Graphite - much better, but nasty on the hands, 2-4 seasons
PTFE /TEFLON - better than Graphite, best value, 3-5 seasons
GTO - This is the genuine Gore with PTFE, and Graphite mixture, will have 100% GFO stamped on braid - Don't know how long this really lasts, best I've seen so far. (rated for up to 15,000 shaft RPM)
GTU - This is the knock-off similar product to GTO, packaged by Western Pacific Trading Co.

To save my customers $$ I buy in bulk rolls and cut to length, & place in a simple plastic zip-lock bags. I carry the Teflon, and will have GTO on the parts site by the week-end.

[shyskier]

Please do not cut rope holding pin on pylon to put extension over pylon. It can be pressed, driven out. This has been discussed in other post if you can find it.

[KeyserSoze]

Previous owner already cut the tips off the ski pylon ears.  Not a big deal, they can be a pain to drive out.  I don't slalom ski anymore.  We either wakeboard or pull a tube or kneeboard.  Going to put a ski pylon extension on soon.  Can't stand the idea of drilling into the boat to mount a wakeboard tower....

I didn't know Ron Tanis was going to start carrying the Gore-Tex stuff.  I ended up ordering 5 feet of industrial Gore-Tex 1/4 packing.  Will let people know how it works and take pictures.  It is made in USA and marked 100% GFO.  Looks like good stuff.  5 feet should last me a long time. 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SW715SE?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

[Mike Harry]

It may not be the most popular choice with the old school guys but I decided to go with the dripless system in my boat. It is cooled and lubricated with water from the recirculation pump and I love it.